Fuel burning cooking unit



p 1 1957 w. E. WILLIAMS ETAL 2,806,464

FUEL. BURNING COOKING UNIT Filed Feb. 7, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Wham; 4141 Sept 17, 1957 Filed Feb. 7, 1952 W. E. WILLIAMS ETAL FUEL BURNING COOKING UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 20 I 2L- 8' w W" H: nu

United States Patent C FUEL BURNINGfCOOKING UNIT Willis Williams, Shelbyville, and Howard L. Reed,

Shelby County, Ind assignors to Chambers Corpora- 'tion, a corporation of Indiana Application February 7,1952, Serial No. 270,362 11 claims. (Cl. 126-39 This invention relates to a cooking unit that may 'be sup orted on the top of a weed, plastic or metal cabinet or on any similar supporting structure.

The "present invention is a continuation-impart of our co-pending application Serial No. 175,354, filed July 22, 1 950,- now abandoned.

The invention com rises a cookin unit which includes an open top box which is mounted in the top of a wood, plastic, or metal cabinet, or other suitable supporting s'tfuc'tur'e, a cooking top which is mounted -'on brackets when space the edges of the cooking top in aparticular relationship to the top of the cabinet and the side Walls or the-open top box, and one or more burners, grates and other necessary ap urtenances. The cooking unit is particularly designed to provide for the flow of air which "is necessar for proper combustion of the gas or other fuel used forfnrnishih the heat used for cooking. The burning of this air with the gas or other fuel consumed causes a draft which insures a continuous *flow of air in a pre detennlned path. The structural relationship betw'cen the cooking top and the rest of the cooking unit provides an insulating space between the edges of the cooking top and the top of the cabinet or other supporting structure. The sidewalls 6f the "open top box are provided with fins tospace them from inner edges of the cabinet, and the box has a continuous top flange arranged represent a rniniinum' of surface contact with the cabinet top to reduce the conduction of heat from the box to the cabinet. Awaterpr'oo'f seal is provided between the flange of the open top box and-the cabinet top to prevent seepage at the joint therebetween. The top flange protects the inside of the -box from liquids spilled on the cabinet top, and from all dust or food-stuff that might drop on the top surface of the cabinet and otherwise be inadvertently brushed into the box.

The side walls of the open top box also serve as baflies to direct the inflowin'g air upwardly into close proximity with the cooking top to keep the edges of the cooking 'top reasonably cool. The air passes from the proximity of the cooking topt'owards the burners to insure proper combustion. The flow of the cool air over the edges of the sidewalls of the box also keeps the side walls cool. In consequence there is no appreciable amount of heat transferred from the edges of the cooking .top or the side walls of the box to the top of the cabinet or other support.

The structure by which the above noted and other advantages of'theinve'ntion are attained will be described in detail in the following specification taken in conjunction with the =accompanying drawing illustrating two preferred embodiments of the invention, in which:

Figure 1 is a'perspective view showing a-cooking 'top embodying the invention as applied to the top-of a cabinet;

Fig. 2is an explodedperspective-view showing the open top box and the cooking top which constituteelements of the cooking unit;

Fig. "3 is a cross sectional view, taken along the line Fig. 1;

ice

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view, taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section, taken along the line 5'-5 of Fig. 1, and shown in perspective;

I Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view, similar to Fig. 2, showing another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 7 isa cross sectional view, taken along lin'e"7-'7 of- Fig. 6, but with the cooking top 'ass'embled'with the open top box and positioned .in a cabinet top.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 2 indicates a cabinet made of wood, plastic, metal or the like, having a top 3 provided with a large opening "4 therein. The top may have a covering 5 of stainless steel, linoleum or similar material. If desired, the 'edgeof covering 5 surrounding the opening 4 may be provided m'th an upstanding projection. It will be understood that' the cabinet illustrated is conventional, except for the opening 4, and constitutes only one embodiment of a suitable supporting structure for 'the cooking unit which comprises the present invention. Any other suit-able supporting structure may be used in plane of the cabinet. in the preferred embodiment of the invention a box 6 is fitted into the opening 4. 'The opening is preferably square or rectangular, but may be of any desired shape. It is possible in accordance with the present invention to eliminate the opening 4 and to 'supp'ort't-he box 6 on a "solid surface.

The-box has a bottom 7 and upstanding .side walls "-8. Each 'of the side walls is bent at right angles to provide a continuous ledge 9 which terminates in 'a downwardly turned flange or'baffle 10the loweredge ofwh'ich rests on the top 3 adjacent opening '4 to support the box. The box may be made in one piece, "or the sidewalls 8 may be provided 'withsinturned flanges 1 1 which serve to support the bottom 7.

=Our structure for supporting box =6 on top '3 solely by the lower edge of flange 10 insures a minimum area of contact between the box and the cabinet top-and thereby reduces thecondu'ction of heat fromthe 'box to the cabinot top. In order to further reduce the conduction of heat from the cooking unit to the cabinet structure, an angular member :12 is secured to the outside of each corner of the box by welding or similar means. The members 12 :are each provided withfins 1 3 which extend I outwardly at right angles to side walls 8 of the "box to space them from theca'bin'et. The outeredges of fins 13 engage the edge of the cabinet surrounding the opening '4 to :provide lateral support for box 6 without sunlcient contact area to allow 'any appreciablecon'duction of heat to the cabinet structure.

Flange 10, which acts as a bafile for. the "cooking unit as hereinafter described, extends outwardly and downwardly from ledge 9 so as to present 'a sloping edge which offers a minimum of resistance to the circulation ofincoming air by providing a streamlined flow. The lower edge of flange 10 is positioned a slight distance away from the edge of opening '4 and a seal 15 of pliable, elastic waterproofing compound is positioned between the underside of the flange and the cabinet top to'prevent seepage therebetw'een.

If the edge :of the top is provided with an upstanding projection surrounding opening 4, such projection pro- 'vides an additional safeguard against seepage and also serves Ito hold seal :15 in position. Flange 10 positions ledge 9 a distance above the cabinet top-to provide clearance for such projection so that it will rnot interfere .with the proper positioningof the box6.

A plurality of burners 16 is mounted in-the box 6 in any suitable manner. The -top .17 of the cooking unit has a downwturned edge 18 about the periphery-and is supported on angle brackets 19 secured to Op osite :side walls 8 of box 6, with edge "18 spaced above cabinet top 3. The brackets are provided with slots 20 so that they may be individually adjusted vertically to level the cooking top if the top of the cabinet 2 is not level. As shown in the drawings, the brackets are adjusted so that the downturned edge 18 of the cooking top is spaced above the surface of top 3 but below the top of ledge 9. Cooking top 17 is provided with an opening 21 over each burner 16, and a grate 22 is positioned over each opening.

The depending edge 18 of the cooking top extends beyond the ledge 9 of the side walls of the box so as to allow air to pass between the upper portions of the side walls and the depending edge of the cooking top. The

,flange 10 of the side walls of the box acts as a baffle to direct the air upwardly adjacent the cooking top. The air flowing into the box in this manner is used by the burners for completion of combustion, and the burning of this air with gas or other'fuel causes a draft with the hot gases of combustion passing outwardly through the openings 21.

A portion of the heat generated by the burners is trans- .mitted to the cooking top 17 and grates 22. The space between the depending edge 18 of the cooking top and the cabinet top 3 protects the adjacent portions of the cabinet top 3 from :the heat transmitted to the cooking top by the burners. The cool air passing through this space also tends to keep the edge 18 and baflle 10 relatlvely cool, and thereby affords additional protection against burning the edges of the cabinet top adjacent the opening 4. The baflle also prevents liquids that may spill on the cabinet top from dripping over the side walls into the open top box 6, and prevents particles of food or dust from being accidentally brushed from the cabinet top into the box.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 the only difference is in the construction of the upper portion of the box 6', and therefore the description of the other parts will not be repeated. Similar reference numbers are used to identify similar parts.

The side walls 8 of box 6 are each offset adjacent the top to provide a continuous ledge 23 which rests on the top 3 adjacent the opening 4 :to support the box. The side walls 8 terminate in an upwardly extending flange 24 bent upwardly from the outer edge of ledge 23. The

flange 24 above ledge 23 acts as a bafile to direct the flow of secondary air upwardly towards the cooking The term cooking top used in the claims refers to a relatively flat surface on the top of a cooking unit on which the utensils to be heated rest.

Although we have described two preferred embodiments of our invention in considerable detail, the descript1on thereof is intended to be illustrative, rather than restrictive, as many details may be modified or changed, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, we do not desire to be restricted to the exact structure disclosed.

We claim:

1. A cooking unit comprising an open top box having imperforate upstanding side walls and an imperforate bottom wall, a burner mounted in said box, a plurality of brackets secured to and projecting above said box, a cooking top mounted on said brackets and extending beyond the upper edges of said side walls, said cooking top having a downturned edge, said edge being spaced from the upper edge of said side walls to permit the flow of air therebetween, and a baflle connected to said side walls for aiding in directing the inflowing air upwardly towards said cooking top.

2. In a support structure having an opening in its top, the improvement comprising an imperforate open top box mounted in said opening, said box having an upstanding side wall, a burner mounted in said box, and a cooking top positioned over said open top box with its edge extending beyond the upper edgeof said side wall and being turned downwardly, the downturned edge of said 4 a cooking top being spaced from the top of said support to permit air to flow therebetween, and a battle positioned between said downturned edge and the upper edge of said side wall .to aid in directing the inflowing air towards said cooking top.

3. A cooking unit comprising an imperforate box having side walls and a bottom, a burner mounted in said box, a plurality of brackets mounted on the side walls of said box, said brackets being individually adjustable vertically relative to said box, and a cooking top mounted on said brackets, the edge of said cooking top being turned downwardly beyond the upper edges of said side walls, and abatfle connected to the side Wall of said box for aiding in directing air to said cooking top.

4. In combination with a support having an opening in its top, a cooking unit supported in said opening, said unit comprising an imperforate box having side walls and a bottom, individually adjustable brackets mounted on said side walls, a burner mounted in said box, and a cooking top mounted on said brackets, the edge of said cooking top extending beyond said side walls and being turned downwardly, said downturned edge being spaced above the top of said support to permit air to flow theretween, and the side walls of said box projecting above the top of said support to act as baffles to aid in directing the inflowing air upwardly towards said cooking top.

5. In a support structure having an opening in its top,

' the improvement comprising a cooking unit supported in said opening, said unit comprising an imperforate box having side walls and a bottom, individually adjustable brackets mounted on said side walls, a burner mounted in said box, and a cooking top mounted on said brackets,

the edge of said cooking top extending beyond said side walls and being turned downwardly, said downturned edge being spaced above the-top of said support to permit air to flow therebetween, and the side walls of said box terminating in flanges which aid in directing the inflowing air upwardly towards said cooking top.

6. In a support structure having an opening in its top, the improvement comprising a cooking unit supported in said opening, said unit comprising an imperforate box having side walls and a bottom, a burner in said box, means on said box for supporting a cooking top, and a cooking top mounted on said means and positioned above said box, the cooking top extending laterally beyond said side walls and terminating in a downturned edge spaced above the top of said support to permit air to flow therebetween, the side walls of the box extending above the top of the support to act as battles to aid in directing the inflowing air towards said cooking top.

7. In a support structure having an opening in its top, the improvement comprising a cooking unit supported in said opening, said unit comprising an imperforate box having side walls and a bottom, a burner in said box, means on said box for supporting a cooking top, and a cooking top mounted on said means and positioned above said box, the cooking top extending beyond said side walls and terminating in a downturned edge spaced above the top of said support to permit air to flow therebetween, the upper portion of each side wall having a ledge parallel to the top of said support and a flange directing the inflowing air above said ledge.

8. In a support structure having an opening in its top, the improvement comprising a cooking unit supported in said opening, said unit comprising an imperforate box having side walls and a bottom, a burner in said box, means on said box for supporting a cooking top, and a cooking top mounted on said means and positioned above said box, the cooking top extending beyond said side walls and terminating in a downturned edge spaced above the top of said support to permit air to flow therebetween, the upper portion of each side wall having a ledge parallel to the top of said support and a flange extending outwardly and downwardly from said ledge to the top of said support, said flange aiding in directing the inflowing air upwardly towards said cooking top.

9. In combination with a support having an opening in its top, a cooking unit supported in said opening, said unit comprising an imperforate box having side walls and a bottom, a burner in said box, a plurality of brackets secured to said box, the upper end of each of said brackets extending above said side walls and terminating in a plane above the plane of the top of said support, and a cooking top extending beyond the upper edges of said side walls, said cooking top being supported on said brackets above said box and above the top of said support to permit air to flow therebetween, the upper portion of each side wall having a ledge parallel to the top of said support and a flange extending outwardly and downwardly from said ledge to the top of said support, said flange aiding in directing the inflowing air towards said cooking top, and a waterproof seal surrounding said opening between the underside of said flange and the top of said support.

10. In a support structure having an opening at its top, the improvement comprising a cooking unit supported in said opening, said unit comprising a box having side walls and a bottom, a burner in said box, means on said box for supporting a cooking top, and a cooking top mounted on said means and positioned above said box, the cooking top extending beyond said side walls and terminating in a downwturned edge spaced above the top of said support to permit air to flow therebetween, and spacing members secured to said side walls to space the sides of said box from the inner edges of said opening to reduce the conduction of heat from said box to said support.

11. A cooking unit comprising an open top box having side walls with a ledge terminating in a downwardly extending flange, a plurality of brackets secured to said box and extending thereabove, a cooking top mounted on said brackets above said box to minimize transfer of heat between said cooking top and box, the edges of said cooking top extending beyond said side walls and being turned downwardly, said downturned edges extending below the top of said ledge and defining therewith a space for passage of air, said downturned flange being adapted to contact the peripheral margin of an opening in a support in which the cooking unit is adapted to be mounted, and a sealing joint between said flange and the top of said support surrounding said opening to prevent food particles and water accidently spilled on said support top from dropping into said box.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 729,233 Steinhofi May 22, 1903 761,559 Totten May 31, 1904 848,794 Weinberg Apr. 2, 1907 1,067,009 Dunn July 8, 1913 1,159,351 Bell Nov. 9, 1915 1,245,408 Voneitf Nov. 6, 1917 1,249,943 Ford Dec. 11, 1917 1,287,405 ODowd Dec. 10, 1918 1,367,296 Buddle Feb. 1, 1921 1,475,587 Leonard Nov. 27, 1923 1,833,734 Brumbaugh Nov. 24, 1931 2,023,692 McQuinn Dec. 10, 1935 2,233,463 Wilson Mar. 4, 1941 2,500,658 Breese Mar. 14, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 361,798 Germany Oct. 19, 1922 372,362 Germany Mar. 27, 1923 790,216 France Sept. 2, 1935 463,490 Great Britain Apr. 1, 1937 

